With a huge roster, the X-Men have a wide variety of interesting characters. One such hero is the fan-favorite resident scientist of the team, Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast. He is characterized by his scholarly nature contrasted with his animalistic mutation and fighting style. Beast has appeared in a variety of animated series based on the X-Men, but he didn’t make his live-action debut until 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, where he was portrayed by Kelsey Grammer.
Later, his younger counterpart was played by Nicholas Hoult in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men Apocalypse, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Both of these characterizations played more into the straight-laced, scholar side of the character, though they both deal with McCoy’s feelings of social isolation due to the effects of his mutation on his appearance. TikTok user @laskapsyna recently posted their concept of what a darker Beast could look like.
Featuring the song “Eaten At Birth” by Canadian musician Limb$ip, the clip shows a darker take on Beast. He less resembles a blue, furry humanoid monster and more so looks like a carnivore. The accompanying music further sets the tone with lyrics such as “I was birthed and then served as a buffet for my captor.” This Beast is more feral and aggressive than how McCoy is typically portrayed in X-Men media. The comment section indicated that viewers largely resonated with the clip. User @coyote_wilde wrote; “god, yes, this iteration of Beast, please. Thank you.” This sets up an interesting possibility for a future adaptation of Beast for either film or television.
What The Animated Beast Art Means For Marvel
There Is More To Beast Than A Scientist
A darker version of Beast is not entirely unheard of, as the character isn’t always morally in the clear. The X-Men franchise deals with the plight of mutants, including the intense discrimination they face from humankind. McCoy was formerly a kinder presence in the X-Men universe, but he has become increasingly complex over the last 25 years.
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Even though Kelsey Grammar returned as Hank McCoy in The Marvels, it’s likely Beast will still be recast for the MCU’s official X-Men reboot.
Beast has become morally grey and jaded because of his struggles for acceptance both for mutantkind and for himself. He became the leader of X-Force, which basically acts as the mutant CIA, in the Krakoa era. Additionally, his Dark Beast variant is one of the more fearsome villain runs for a member of the X-Men. The TikTok clip evokes a more violent Beast, which could lend itself to a more morally dubious take on the character.
Our Take On The Animated Beast Art
Marvel Could Branch Out With Beast’s Characterization
While @laskapsyna’s design for Beast is intriguing, it’s not likely to be used for a mainstream version of the X-Men, even with their imminent debut in the MCU. However, this art style would be an amazing fit for an animated project, be it a television series or a Marvel Studios Special Presentation. Marvel is finally embracing X-Men in the MCU, so utilizing darker storylines and designs of the characters could be a great starting point for future multiverse content.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.